Keloids are exaggerated scars that expand outside of the area of trauma, injury, or surgical scar. Scars are a natural part of the healing process. Keloid scars are an exaggeration of that normal healing response. These scars may form in response to trauma (burns, piercings or acne), injury, or surgical scars. Keloids look like large red/purple, solid nodules. They may also be itchy or tender. The likelihood of developing keloids is genetically determined- in predisposed people, keloids occur even with the most careful wound care. Keloids occur more commonly in African Americans.
Keep in mind that keloids are stubborn scars that tend to come back after treatment. The earlier a keloid scar is treated, the higher the chance it will respond to therapy! The therapy of choice is commonly an injection of a corticosteroid into the scar. The corticosteroid prevents the abnormal proliferation of the cells that form the scar. These steroid injections can make the flattened keloid appear better and less noticeable but will feel different than the surrounding skin.
Pulsed dye laser therapy is another option. The laser causes the keloid scar to get smaller by stopping the cells from multiplying. Combining laser treatment with corticosteroid injection is more effective than just laser therapy alone. Surgical excision (removal) is another choice and is also best followed by the injection of a corticosteroid.
Be sure to tell Dr. Rokhsar about the injury that caused the keloid and when you noticed it. In order to determine the best therapy, also tell the doctor if you have ever had any keloids treated in the past, either successfully or unsuccessfully.
Earlobe keloids appear as smooth, globular growths on one or both sides of the earlobe and may or may not be painful. They range in color from pink to red and may develop from an injury or wound site and can migrate into surrounding areas. Type of treatment depends on the location, size, depth, and duration of the earlobe keloid. The reason some people are more susceptible to keloid formation is currently unknown, but do occur more commonly in people with darker skin, those with body piercings, and the elderly more than children.
Keloids develop most often on the chest, back shoulders and earlobes. Removing a keloid depends on the symptoms that accompany its appearance. A chronically itchy or irritating keloid can pose problems and depending on the location, can be cosmetically sensitive or embarrassing and even lead to disfigurement.
A cortisone injection is a type of steroid, almost identical to the cortisone produced within the body. It is a steroid used to reduce inflammation and when treating keloids, flattens them but doesn’t completely rid the body of the keloid.
Dr. Rokhsar could use VBeam laser because of its effectiveness at flattening keloids and making them look less red. This treatment is relatively painless because it uses specific wavelengths to target the vessels or pigment responsible for the keloid appearance. The procedure lasts for up to 30 minutes and could require one to five treatments in order to obtain desired results.
Surgery is an option for removing a keloid by first injecting it with steroids to decrease its appearance and then once removed pressure is applied and the wound is dressed. This is risky because cutting a keloid can trigger the formation of a similar or even larger keloid post-surgery.
Cryotherapy, which is the freezing of affected cells in order to destroy them, can be used, however, freezing keloids with liquid nitrogen may only flatten them and darken the site after treatment.
Interferon, a topical treatment; fluorouracil, a chemotherapy treatment; or radiation are also treatment options used to reduce or eliminate keloids. Treatment depends on your case of severity, location, depth, and duration and if they develop, you should consult with your doctor.
* Results May Vary
Keloids are raised overgrowths of scar tissue that occur at the site of skin injury or trauma. While the exact cause of keloids is not fully understood, several factors can increase the risk of developing them.
One of the main risk factors for keloids is having dark skin, particularly brown or Black skin. Other risk factors include a family history of keloids, pregnancy, age under 30 years old, and certain pre-existing skin conditions such as acne or chickenpox.
Keloids can occur from a variety of skin injuries, including cuts or punctures, burns, insect bites, surgical incisions, acne, tattoos, and body piercing. Keloids can also occur spontaneously, without any known injury, although this is rare.
It is thought that keloids occur due to an overproduction of collagen, which is the protein responsible for building scar tissue. This overproduction of collagen can lead to the formation of a keloid, which can continue to grow even after the wound has healed.
Treatment options for keloids include freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy), steroid injections, Kenalog/5FU injections, laser treatment, surgical removal, and radiation therapy. Keloids can be difficult to treat and may recur even after successful treatment.
Keloids are formed from an overgrowth of scar tissue that occurs at the site of an injury or skin trauma, such as surgery, blisters, acne, tattoos, piercings, or minor scratches and bumps. The overgrowth is caused by an excessive production of collagen, which is a protein found throughout the body that is useful in wound healing. The exact reason why keloids develop is unknown, but they are more likely to occur in areas of the body that have more melanocytes (cells that make pigment), suggesting that melanin might play a role in causing keloids. Genetics is the largest contributing factor.
Keloids can be identified as smooth, hard growths that can be much larger than the original wound, and can range in color from pink to red/purple. They are more prevalent on the earlobes, jawline, chest, upper back, and shoulders, and may develop elsewhere on the body where the skin has been injured.
For newer keloids, the first treatment option might be compression dressings made from stretchy fabric or other materials, as this can reduce or prevent a scar by putting pressure on the wound as it heals. Other treatments include corticosteroid injections, 5FU injections, cryotherapy, laser therapy, radiation therapy, and surgical removal. However, keloids may recur after treatment, and not all treatments are suitable for every individual.
Scar tissue can have various appearances depending on several factors such as the location of the scar, the type of injury, and the person’s age and skin type. Generally, scar tissue tends to be tighter and thicker than the surrounding skin. It may appear raised, sunken, lumpy, or flat and may be red, skin-colored, or darker than the surrounding skin. Scar tissue may also be painful, itchy, or cause limited movement if it forms a contracture scar.
Keloid scars are a type of raised scar that can form on tissues after an injury. They often appear on the upper body, particularly the chest, shoulders, and earlobes. Keloids are larger than the original wound, have a thick or lumpy appearance, and rise high above the rest of the skin.
Over time, scar tissue may change in appearance. Initially, the scarring may look minimal, but over 4-6 weeks, the scar may get bigger or become raised, firm, and thick. However, over the next 2-3 months, the scar may become smaller and blend in more with the surrounding skin.
In some cases, scar tissue can cause inflammation, redness, itchiness, throbbing, sensitivity to the touch, and reduced range of motion. Scar tissue fibrosis, a mass of hardened protein strands laid down haphazardly by fibroblasts at the injury site, is often a factor in chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Scar tissue can often cause discomfort and restrict movement due to its stiffness and inflexibility. Fortunately, there are several ways to soften scar tissue and reduce its negative effects. Here are some methods that may be helpful:
Scar tissue cannot be completely removed, but these methods can help to reduce its negative effects and improve mobility. Another fact is that keloids can recur even after treatment. Surgery has the highest recurrence rates out of any method.
Keloids are a type of raised scar that forms due to an overgrowth of collagen. They can be caused by various factors, including injury to the skin, burns, acne, or surgery. If you are prone to developing keloids, there are steps you can take to prevent them from forming:
While keloids are not harmful, they can be unsightly and cause discomfort, itching, and pain. Here are some ways to remove keloids:
Removing keloids can be challenging, and not all treatments are effective for everyone. Prevention is the best approach for those prone to keloids. Taking precautions like protecting the skin from injury, especially after an ear piercing, can reduce the risk of getting a keloid.
Although keloids are not harmful, they can be uncomfortable, itchy, and unsightly. There are various treatment options available to help reduce keloids from piercings. Here are some of the options you can consider:
Keloids on the nose can be an unsightly and uncomfortable problem for some people. There are several treatments available that can help reduce the size and appearance of these scars. Here are some options to consider:
No treatment can consistently get rid of a keloid, and what works for one person may not work for another. If you have concerns about a keloid on your nose, it is best to consult with Dr. Rokhsar for guidance on the best treatment options for your specific situation.
Ear keloids often present as hard and in some cases painful nodules on ears. They often occur because of ear piercing or trauma and usually dangle from the ear lobe. It is most commonly seen in African Americans. Serial steroid injections are very effective in treating ear keloids. Combined with 5FU, the steroid injections become even more potent, often eliminating the need for surgery. Injections should be administered every four weeks. Surgical excision is another method to remove earlobe keloids. This is a 30 minute in-office surgery. Sutures are removed 10-14 days after surgery. Dr. Rokhsar recommends wearing pressure earrings right after suture removal to decrease the chance of the keloids growing back.
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Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, MD, FAAD, FAACS, is the founder and medical director of the New York Cosmetic, Skin, & Laser Surgery Center. Dr. Rokhsar is a graduate of Harvard College and NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Rokhsar is double board certified in dermatology and micrographic dermatologic surgery, being one of the few select dermatologists in the country who is also fellowship trained in laser surgery. A researcher and innovator, Dr. Rokhsar is the creator of the non-surgical nose job and has been instrumental in the research and development of laser systems such as the Fraxel, CO2, Mirady, Vbeam, Themitight, and Ulthera devices. An Associate Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, Dr. Rokhsar actively teaches the cosmetic dermatology clinic to the resident at Mount Sinai. An expert injector of fillers, and a trainer for many companies, patients fly in from around the world to see Dr. Rokhsar in his Garden City and Manhattan offices in New York.
Dr. Rokhsar was chosen by
magazine as a top dermatologist in its Best Doctors 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 issues.
